Fatal Toronto gas-and-dash prompts push for ‘pay-first’ policy at the pumps

TORONTO – The death of a Toronto gas attendant in an alleged gas-and-dash over the weekend has a member of the provincial legislature pushing for a “pay-first” policy at the pumps.

Liberal Mike Colle says he’s working on a private member’s bill he believes would help curb gas theft by forcing drivers to pay upfront.

He says not enough is being done to protect gas station workers whose safety is at risk whenever gas theft occurs.

Premier Dalton McGuinty promised Monday to take a look at what he can do to make workplaces safer for gas attendants.

Meanwhile, Toronto police are looking for a 39-year-old man wanted on a second-degree murder charge in Saturday’s incident, which claimed the life of a 44-year-old man.

Jayesh Prajapati was hit Saturday night after a motorist driving a four-door SUV had filled up his tank with $112 worth of gas and left the station without paying.

Investigators are urging Max Edwin Tutiven of Toronto to turn himself in to police, saying they believe he may have gone to Montreal.

It wouldn’t be the first time the province considers making drivers prepay for gas.

The issue came up last year when a station attendant in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, died after trying to stop a driver from leaving without paying.

At the time, McGuinty said he would seek advice on the matter from police, consumer groups and businesses.

British Columbia instituted a pay-first policy back in 2008 and named it Grant’s Law after Grant DePatie, a man who was dragged to death while trying to stop a $12 gas-and-dash.

Prepayment is also common at many gas stations in the United States.